Echo distance measuring apparatus



May 20, 1952 Filed May 25, 1948 H. A. STAMPER ET AL 2,597,199

, ECHO DISTANCE MEASURING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY y 1952 H. A. STAMPER ETAL' 2,597,199

ECHO DISTANCE MEASURING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1948 O 0 O O 0 O O O 0' O O O O 0 O 0 0 0 O 0 G O O O INVENTORS H. A. STAMPER D. O. NELSON J. A. WIPPERT ATTORNEY y 19.52 H. A. STAMPER ET AL 2,597,199

ECHO DISTANCE MEASURING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /Z 30 49 o 47 2 A? f 5 a? I O O 7 Q 2 40 Z O 35'" 32 62/ 4 ;A IPL|FlER "q I a aw: I TRANSDUCERE? g: e?

INVENTORS H. A. STAMPER D. O. NELSON Patented May 20, 1952 EQHQDISEANQE, MEASURING E BAT Hamilton A stam per and Donaldb. N'elsdaro's A ngele and James A. Wippert, Burbank, cane;

ssignors. to Bendix Aviation Corporatiori, Smith Bend; 11111.,2} cgrporafi f pplic ation May arises, se'ra1.m;29, 14t

This invention relates to distance measuring by :reilected: traveling-waves, and; relates more particularly-to apparatus} that makesa continuou'swreflcord of; the distance Such apparatus is most;commonly; used :orrhoats and ship's to measure -the depth" ofirwater; under whichccnditions iti'scal-le'd a;-depth-recorder;-- Y

An obj ect ;of--.t he invention; is to simplify reduce 99F N more specific objects and features of the come apparent from the descriprecorders have employed rotating 'v'olving'a stylus'across the record neeeseitgted" the" measurement of ngar arc onthe paper. and required y ar d expensive rotating struc- 'e' stylus, which structure somenter 'red"with the view of the record. 1i 'cijhsideredelimiriatiorifof a remuneer arid us'irl'g 'a'belt to carry the stylus trai'gh pja'th' 'across the'recordpaper; How'- evensiicharra'nge'ments as have heretofore been pfo'bosedwraimpracticable for various reasons, chief of which were belt breakage and belt slippa'getlzBelt breakagewas a problem because it was considered'ihecessary to use metal belts in order T130 complete electricalconnection to the stylus. filippage could 'anotflbetolerated in the pri r anaratus beca s r trthrew th ty us o ofleynchronis m with-the contact or commutator mepha iism rthat ee .EILQR@QSIQi-.Si0ll1 of th n c-impi lsflsi iia pqrsianpe, wi h. h pre en ve it q eltr o z mplfiyeslwithout i c r n h m et me il l lii -ut u nd O P- em l ient, st cture; Q .@9re e s n lim n elbia sili iye e t 9 th t m Tic q ubbe lf .lt eny e, emp o tarit, hOWBYBI,'i- S that the agate. (01.17 j,

of elt lippa v r fieeeu Q the nwq perate switches or com utatcrs, an'djgearsfor driw injg-theni si nchrbmsm with the stylus; tegether with the" substitutierif'of a light belt and pulleys for the formerfheavy iotatir ig stylus carrier; "2."

relatively s Iriall, light and" inexpensive driving motoroah beefiiploy ed. '3

Further iri "accordjnoe with the present invention, high efliciendy" and simplicity are obta i fi ed in the generation of the some impulses .byJem ploying a shock-excited:oscillatory"eircuitccm' sisting "of a higliQ' inducta ceelemexit mounted in the" recorder case andft'u'nedbvf'theinhereht capacity or a remotely located pi'ezo "orystalftr'ane ducer and the inherent capacity offthe connecting cable; I-Ieretfefore' it been jthe"practice'to locate theinduct'arice element'ir tha transducer case, under which conditioifjitfwas' d" ,cultj'to employ aninductance having ahigh Q! Other novel features of the invention will appear from the-following detailed description.

In thefdra'wingsf Fig. 1 is'a'froht elevation of the recorder caee of a depth recorder in accordance with the inver1= tion; 7 r yd;

Fig. 2, is a. vertical section taker; ii the plague IIII OfFig L 1;

Fig Bis a'detailed vertical sectior taken it the D 3 III-4110f Fig- "T Fig. 4 a vertical section takerrinthe plane IV--'"IY oiFigi'Z; Fig. 5 is ade'tail vertical sectior taker in the plane V-Vof Fig. 4;

Fig. plane VI-eVI of Fig. 5.;

Fig, 7 is a, horizontal-section -v i Fi and. a

Fig. 9' 15a schematic circuit diagram of the electric-system of therec order; Rei r in fi t o' llig h 92 q piiq f therein de i ted o e is e ,wnir li*hoxj ri corder ca n 10 si tin f. a ea etiqnerr n i .-i2 and ai' r m,.n p .e:. eremtion l2jwhich is adapted'tof-be-sealecl fth the portion. I'libya rubbergasket;l3 'Thecasin cover 12 has a window Mthrough which thepa'per record I5 is visible." Theflower portion-'of fthe cover I 2 contains an openir g'l'fi through whicha control panel llon theelectronic urrit l'ii projects This" panelj ll may contain a gain -controlfkr1ob Ill; an illumination control lg ob; H2, an fon v i i ch la, a d 5112 6 l eee't lim r I'M. Afastener lSQmay'be provide fto -e'eeure thecover' iii elosedfpos'ition.

a e nfih Plane 6 i e f riiq -l e men tak r? th I is moved slowly from right to left by a drive roller having sprockets 2| thereon which engage marginal sprocket holes 22 in the paper. After passing around the roller 20, the paper I5 is wound around a take-up roller 23 (Fig. 7) which take-up roller is driven from the roller 20 by pulleys 24 and 25 and a crossed belt 26. The roller 20 is driven at constant speed by a small electric motor 28 which may be of the synchronous clock type containing reduction gearing incorporated therein. The paper may be held positively in engagement with the roller 20 at opposite ends thereof by guide clips 3|].

The record paper I5 may be of various types, but it is convenient to employ a type of paper that produces a mark in response to an electrical discharge therethrough. Hence the desired markings can be produced on the paper by applying a suitable potentia1 between the backing plate 3| over which the paper rides, and a wire stylus 32 that is dragged across the paper at recurrent intervals at a constant speed. In accordance with the invention, the stylus 32 is carried by a belt 33 which is supported by two pulleys 34 and 35, so that the stylus moves downwardly across the paper and returns upwardly back of the paper. Details of the mounting of the stylus on the belt and its operation to produce the record will be described later.

The record paper is fed from a feed roller 31 (Fig. 7 and flows forwardly over a guide plate 38 to the edge of the backing plate 3|, which may be formed continuously with the plate 38. To maintain a proper tension in the paper |5 so that it will lie flat against the plate 3|, a tensioning device may be employed which consists of an approximate helical tension spring 40 which is supported above and below the paper on the plate 38. As is best shown in Fig. 4, this spring 40 is tapered from a small diameter at each end to a larger diameter at the middle, so that each turn of the spring bears against the paper with approximate equal force.

As previously indicated, the belt 33 is stretched over two pulleys 34 and 35, the pulley 34 being a drive pulley, and the pulley 35 being an idler pulley. The pulley 34 is shown coupled to an electric motor 42, the drive shaft 43 of which is coaxial with the pulley 34. The driving coupling between the motor shaft 43 and the pulley 34 is shown as consisting of a hub 44 on the motor shaft having a radial slot therein which engages a crank pin 45 projecting from the pulley 34. Both pulleys are rotatably supported on stub shafts which are in turn supported at their right ends from the frame of the machine.

As previously indicated, the belt 33 does not need to be electrically conductive, and hence may be made from pliant, non-metallic material, such as rubberized fabric, which has little frictional resistance to bending, and has a long life.

The stylus 32 and a complementary wire brush 41 are secured as by soldering to opposite sides 49| and 492 of a rectangular metal frame 49 constituting a stylus carriage. The other two sides 493 and 494 of this frame 49 have pivot apertures 495 therein which are engaged by conical ends of a pivot bar 5!], the mid portion of which is imbedded in a block 5| of rubber or the like, which is secured, as by vulcanizing, to the belt 33. The block 5| is preferably of relatively soft, flexible material so that it can distort to conform to the curvature of the pulleys 34 and 35 as it passes therearound. It is also found desirable to preshape the surface of the block 5| that engages 4 the belt 33 to conform to the curvature of the pulleys.

The structure including the pivot bar 53 and the frame 49 constitutes a light-weight support for the stylus 32 and brush 41 that rocks as nec essary to retain the stylus 32 against the paper and retain the brush 41 against its cooperating parts (to be described). The frame 49 can be easily and quickly removed from the pivot bar by simply squeezing the sides -l9l and 492 between the fingers, which causes the sides 493 and 494 to bow apart out of engagement with the ends of the pivot bar. Another stylus-bearing frame can be substituted by simply reversing the operation.

The brush 41 performs two functions: (1) It serves to initiate the generation of the transmitted sonic pulse. (2) It completes electrical connection between the stylus 32 and its energizing circuit.

Thus referring to Fig. 4, during the major portion of the travel of the stylus 32 across the paper l5, the brush 41 rides along a conductive track or segment 52 which is supported at its ends from the main frame. Thus it is attached at its upper end by a screw 54 to an insulating block 55 which in turn is'secured by screws 56 to a frame element 51. At its lower end, the segment 52 is connected by a screw 58 to an insulation block 59 which is secured by screws 60 to a frame element 6|. To permit vertical adjustment of the segment 52, the screws 56 engage slots 55| in the insulation block 55, and the screws 6|] engage vertical slots 59I in the insulation block 59.

There is mounted on but insulated from the segment 52 a starting contact or segment 63 which ment 52 by the brush 41 as the latter passes across the gap between the two, to initiate the transmitted impulse. This starting segment 53 is secured as by two rivets 63| to a thin strip of insulating material 64 which overlies the segment 52 and is secured thereto. At its lower end, the insulating strip 64 extends into a groove 522 in the segment 52 (Fig. 2) which retains the lower end of the strip. The upper end of the strip 64 is retained against the segment 52 by a bifurcate spring clip 10, the two prongs of which straddle a tongue portion EM and engage a pair of shoulders 642. The spring clip 10 extends at its upper end between the segment 52 and the insulating block 55 which supports it, and is clamped between the segment 52 and block 55 by the screw 54.

It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the starting segment 63 has its lower edge spaced only slightly from the adjacent part of the segment 52, and that the brush 41 has a bend 41| at its point of contact so that as it rides from the starting segment 63 onto the segment 52 it momentarily interconnects them. As will be explained later, this causes transmission of a pulse of waves. Sufiice it to say at this point, that at the instant the brush 41 interconnects the contact 53 and the segment 52 a sonic wave is transmitted and an impulse is simultaneously applied through the segment 52 and through the brush 41 and the stylus frame 49 to the stylus 32, causing the latter to produce a. mark 1| along the upper edge of the paper. When the echo of the transmitted pulse returns it is received and amplified and applied to the segment 52, thence through the brush 41 and frame 49 to the stylus 32, to produce another mark 12 on the paper. The dis- -may1be; of. cqnventiona1 design, the inputj tere.

nse 5 13:. ennmerks om e mark 1 is. m ortiqnalami h .:d ence.-.of. rev 0f eq qnie wave tothe pgintof reflection and back (usually. the bottorn of the, water-,and hack); Thelma flepteur e trai ht ue,.beingdetermi,n solely by themosition of the stylus .32 at the .i stant-fnheebrush -fl'l. interconnects the segment. 63 andwthe segment 52; Since it is this passage of. therbrushfl fr0m,the segment 63 to the segment. S2ythat determ-ines the; time of transmission of; the ,sonicw-aye; the istylus BZ ;must of necessityral; ways remain in synchronism with the .itra'nse mitted sig-na lg The rnark 12 is of course .variable since it depends,-,upon-the-. distance of travehoi.

ll r qim' 9 g mow; tot e ,observed that the st nnectedbya lead 14 a tQfihQflQHtr-Ol grid 16] of ath through condenser .15,.t0. .the. rid 76 ,jcau'sin the 1 I, momentarilybeccinepositive and render.

H onductive'," whereupon the charge on the ,cqndensers- 7 9,. is immediately dicharged through thetuhe; i6, to the-ground This pr0,

ducesa surge of current in the}.inductance.80 between the lower end thereof and the tap 8fl-l' which, shocks .the,tune1;lv circuit and initiates a he; schematic-circuit,dies.

toground to a; second grid153. The anode. onic waye is traueling to the. point 1643M ube -is connected through a resistor W returning} the .istylusfsz and.

H to -thep ositive terminal of aB supply 18. The .'|.;-trae1 dcwnwardlyg sthelbrush 37 rid anode. lfikis also connectedthrcugh a; condenser I grnentfi z sothat the stylus -.32 is at Ira-variable inductance 89, one 253;;311 cted togtlie arnplifier"8 5. Wheril sideofwhr rpunded, and which is connected L QJQW PQS a n d is received by the by: cahle al tc a transducer 82 which is p osi-fl tunedremotely from theapparatus within the control;box;or;recorder-casing [0. The transducer; 82;;1s assumedto be of a type having inherentycapacity whichis indicated by the dotted-. line, showing ;oi}.a condenser 82L Likewise the cableBl; isa type having inherent capacity, which is; indicated bmthe; dotted-line showing 81 I. It; isthesfi;capacities fll and82l that tune the -inductancesliil to.-.-; esn au er the equ ncy oi. transmission;;whiph may-be; 50,000- cycles.

Of: ;c,o ursethe; total capacity of the cable 7 3 l depends upon its length In practice, it is often convenientrtmsupply; the; apparatus with a fixedlength of; cable; 8| "which; tunes with the inductance 80. If the length of cable is-greater than needed, the excess; cable iscoiled up instead of ein cut om; Slieht.;,detu ine e-w re d. djugtingthe inductance- 80 which is of ;variable;typ e,;.as; shown; "Ifhe ungrounded end of theinductance- 80.: is. connected through a resis-tor 84,1120, the input of; an amplifier 85, which minalczconnectingdio theco r l rid 86. 0 he. first; tube. 8.6 ofythe, amplifier, and the output terminahfiilt.ccmneebing tQ-theanode B81 of the; 1ast.-.tube.-.38s;o,f; the amplifier. 13 current is; sup plied from the. sourceg'lflgtqg the output terminal 81 throuahaminductance;element 90 which-is shunted by; ayresistor 8 9;.v The output; terminal 8:1. is connected by. a condenser 9| to the segment 52,- thecondenserfl]. bein shunted bya, resistor 92;. "The. starting; segment, 63 is connected to ground throughiaflow 'resistu 93,. which m yb 100.0; ohms The. circuit operates as follows:

Normallyethe; starting 1 contact, 63, is open, and abiasine battery 9'4. impresses sufiicient negative biaszonthe :grid 16.! (through a grid resistor 95.)- to-bl'ockthetube, so that no current. fiowsbetweenithe-lcathodeJ'BZzand'the anode 16.4. Under this: cnndition; heanode 1.6.4. a q r a posi ive. potential; equal to the full .pOtential of; theB; sup: ply- 18' he n ense ii bein als ar d. At heinstant: ebrush 4- simulta e usl on s s; the-startine;s egn1ent-;63 and the segment 5? the full potentialoi the B; supply 18 (to which the.

oifthe paperi- The resistor 92; hasa relatively them ultant electric wave isap '"Th itte e st emein werueiil: hea weh 41 eee u from e seem nt 5 onto the.segment 5 2, -momentarily nQfieeUheihe u s li to the thy-ratron. Cohdnserfidises-th ugl tuhe; 16; until. tube 16 extin- 4 N es due to;1ow voltage; Condenser. 19 discharges through resistor 71, but .thyratron 76 ee netflr egein b eeu ererid h -r egative bias,

ee-. esen .41 s heiinpue i e of? the melifi fifl e ievtleeemp i u e of e positive impulses appliec}.-- thereto at the time of trans- .ulee eeq er v n s-d to ,li et- T er lue Q m I81 1 Ehereeieter Bee-t t 1311 mP1 fi r-in.. i t o. e. may 11 eie re eteu .l rn gohin, so t at; he i nce presented to the output of the amplifier; o t fas.;greatly yar ed-b the nt: f,- t e e il i h 'e ehee he e e. fi'lql iee m en rp se. is to discharge condenser 9-! @WW? e iee-when-tm .SW PS is 1 It is eer ieu ee y 9 bei j eu h t. asi e o thepaper driige fithe n otorg-gd which is unavoidehl 1 pelts.- a e. he e 3 e F 'Q E YQFEr EPQ All in mediums such as water, air and the like, suit able for measuring distance irrespective of whether the frequency lies within, below or above th audible range.

Although for the purpose of explaining the invention, a particular embodiment thereof has been shown and described, obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art, and we do not desire to be limited to the exact details shown and described.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the type described comprising in combination: means for generating electric waves in response to application of potential thereto; means for transmitting traveling waves in response to generation of said electric waves; means for receiving traveling waves and generating electric waves in response thereto; a member to be recorded upon; a stylus and a stylusmoving means for recurrently traversing said stylus across said member independently of received waves; means for applying electric waves generated in response to received traveling waves to said stylus for producing an indication on said record member of the position of the stylus at the time of reception of said traveling waves; a brush element on said stylus-moving means electrically connected to said stylus; first and second adjacent switch segments over which said brush element successively ride s, said brush element beingof such configuration as to momentarily interconnect said segments during its passage from the first to the second segment, the second segment being so dimensioned and positioned as to be traversed by said brush element while said stylus is traversing said record member; means connecting said second segment to said means for generating electric waves in response to received traveling waves and to a source of potential; and means connecting said first segment to said electric wave generating means to initiate generation of electric waves therein in response to said momentary interconnection of said segments by said brush element; said stylus-moving means comprising a stylus carriage member moving in a predetermined path traversing said record member parallel to said second segment.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for generating electric waves in response to received traveling waves includes a vacuum-tube amplifier having an output terminal connected to said long segment; said source of potential constituting a source of anode-potential for said amplifier.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for generating electric waves comprises a thermionic tube having a cathode, control grid and anode, an oscillation circuit and a source of anode potential connected to said anode, means normally negatively biasing said control grid to cut-off; and means for momentarily driving said control grid positive to render said tube conductive in response to connection of said source of potential to said first segment.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said means for momentarily driving said control grid positive comprises a condenser connected between said source of anode potential and said second segment; and a resistor of resistance large compared to the resistance of the record member shunting said condenser.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means for generating electric waves in response to received travelling waves includes a vacuum tube amplifier having an output tube containing an anode, said; record member hav ing a resistance effective to load said amplifier when connected thereto; a source of anode potential; a tuning inductance connecting said source to said anode; means for periodically completing a circuit from said anode through said stylus and record, member; and a resistor having a resistance higher than that of said record member connected in shunt to said tuning inductance for loading said amplifier when said anode circuit is not completed through said stylus and said record member.

6. Apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination: means including a control circuit for generating electric waves in response to closure of said circuit; means for transmitting travelling waves in response to generation of said electric waves; means for receiving travelling waves and generating an electric potential in response thereto; a member to be recorded upon and means for moving it in a predetermined direction; a stylus and stylus-moving means for recurrently traversing said stylus across said member independently of received waves; a driving motor for said, stylus-moving means, and friction drive means coupling said motor to said stylus-moving means; means for applying the electric potential generated in response to received travelling waves to said stylus for producing an indication onsaid record member of the position of the stylus in its traverse at the time of reception of said travelling waves; and switching means comprising an element on said stylusmoving means and a cooperating stationary means at a predetermined point in the path or" said element on said stylus-moving means for closing said controlcircuit in response to contact of said element with said stationary means; whereby said control circuit is closed in invariable phase relation with respect to the position of said stylus irrespective of slippage in said friction drive means. e V

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said stylus-moving means comprises a belt and a pair of pulleys for supporting said belt with one stretch thereof traversing said record member, a block of rubberlike material on the outer surface of said belt and means mounting said stylus on said block, one of said pulleys being coupled to said driving motor and driven thereby.

8. Apparatus according to claim '7 in which the surface of said block adjacent said belt is normally concave to conform 'to the belt while it is bent around one of said pulleys.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said stylus moving means comprises a belt and a pair of pulleys for supporting said belt with one stretch thereof traversing said record member in front thereof and the other stretch traversing the record in rear of the record member, a carriage member on the outer surface of said belt, and means supporting said stylus on said carriage member for projection of the stylus past the belt onto said record member during traverse of said carriage member in front of said record member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said stylus-moving means comprises a belt member and a stylus carriage on said belt member; a stretch of said belt lying in a predetermined path across said record member, and said stylus projecting from one side of said carriage to said record member; said means for applying elec tric potential to said stylus comprising a brush on said carriage and a stationary segment parallel to said record member, said brush being elec- 9 trically connected to the stylus and projecting from the carriage on the side thereof opposite the stylus into contact with said segment, whereby the torque applied to the carriage by the force of the stylus against the record member is opposed by the force of the brush a ainst said segment.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said stylus carriage comprises: a block of rubberlike material attached to the outer surface of said belt, and means mounting said stylus and brush element on said block, said mounting means comprising a pivot member extending parallel to'the travel of the belt and supported by the block, a resilient hollow frame extending around said block and pivotally engaging the ends of said pivot member at opposite ends of said frame, said stylus and said brush element being secured to opposite sides of said frame.

12. Apparatus for echo distance signaling comprising: means including a switching mechanism for generating electric waves in response to actuation of said switching mechanism; means for transmitting traveling waves in response to generation of said electric waves; means for receiving traveling Waves and generating an electric potential in response thereto; indicating means including a device movable through a predetermined path and responsive to said electric potential for producing a visible indication of the position of said device at the time of application of said potential thereto; supporting and moving means for recurrently traversing said device through said path independently of received waves; a driving motor for said supporting and moving means, and friction drive means coupling said motor to said supporting and moving means; means for applying electric potential generated in response to received traveling waves to said device during its traverse through said path to indicate the location of said device alon said path at the time of reception of said traveling waves; said switching mechanism including an element on said supporting and moving means and cooperating means at a predetermined point I in the path of said element for actuating said switching means in response to contact of said element with said cooperating means.

13. Apparatus of the type described comprising, in combination: means including a control circuit for generating electric Waves in response to closure of said control circuit; means for transmitting travelling waves in response to generation of said electric waves; means for receiving travelling waves and generating an electric potential in response thereto; a member to be recorded upon; a stylus, and stylus-moving means for recurrently traversing said stylus independently of received waves; means for applying the electric potential generated in response to received travelling waves to said stylus for producing an indication on said record member of the position of the stylus in its traverse at the time of reception of said travelling waves; and switching means comprising a brush element on said stylus-moving means and first and second adjacent switch segments in the path of said brush element over which said brush element successively rides for closing said control circuit in response to contact of said brush element with said first and second switch segments, said brush element being of such configuration as to momentarily interconnect said segments during its passage from the first to the second, and said segments being connected in series in said control circuit, the length of the second segment being approximately equal to the Width of said record member and being so positioned as to be traversed by said brush element while said stylus is traversing said record member; said stylus and brush element being electrically interconnected and said second segment being connected to said means for generating electric potential in response to received travelling waves.

HAMILTON A. STAMPER. DONALD O. NELSON.

JAMES A. WIPPERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,847,243 Hayes Mar. 1, 1932 1,858.931 Langevin et al. May 17, 1932 2,170,505 Peters Aug. 20, 1939 2,201,943 Dallin May 21, 1940 2,232,589 Chappell et a1 Feb. 18, 1941 2,370,134 Begun Feb. 27, 1945 2,384,722 Blain Sept. 11, 1945 2,412,234 Turner, Jr. Dec. 10, 1946 2,418,490 Turner, Jr. Apr. 8, 1947 2,437,242 Cole et al. Mar. 9, 1948 2,443,647 Waterman June 22, 1948 2,463,328 Sproule Mar. 1, 1949 2,467,202 Gardiner Apr. 12, 1949 2,491,020 Winchel Dec. 13, 1949 

